City Grille and Raw Bar, 1314 Prudential Drive, opened its doors to the public July 25. It is located at the site of the former Wine Cellar restaurant on the Downtown Southbank.
The new restaurant concept draws inspiration from restaurants in Chicago, New York, Charleston, Nashville, Savannah and travels abroad. The menu offers seafood, steak and other seasonal specialties, as well as an extensive wine list from wine regions around the world. The Raw Bar features fresh oysters from the East and West coasts as well as a selection of ceviche, tartar and crudo.
“We are really excited about this opening,” said John Nagy, owner along with his wife, Karen Belloit Thomas. “There have been some construction and development delays which are to be expected with an older building renovation, but we are thrilled with the result, and it was worth the wait.”
Nagy and Thomas are longtime Riverside residents who also own and operate Eleven South in Jacksonville Beach. They have a long history in the hospitality industry going back to 1987 when Thomas opened The Filling Station with partner Susan Morrow in the same city block of City Grille and Raw Bar. They operated that until 1994.
Since then, Thomas and Nagy opened and have successfully operated Eleven South since 2005, accumulating several culinary and wine awards and a loyal following along the way.
“I am thrilled to be back in my stomping grounds of San Marco and love to see some of the great revitalization projects happening in the area,” said Thomas. “We are passionate about food, service and the experience. And that is what we want to deliver.”
The construction build out was extensive but maintained the original footprint of the building. The interiors range from cozy and moody in the Velvet Room, perfect for pre- and post-dinner libations, to sun-filled and airy in the Garden Room, perfect for lunch and brunch. One of the most significant changes is the expansive bar and raw bar upon entry, which is sure to be frequented at all hours of the day.
